CHICAGO – The Coast Guard and local police are asking for the public's help following a report of a possible unmanned canoe adrift near the South Pier off South Haven, Michigan Saturday afternoon.
A Watchstander at Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan, located in Milwaukee, received a report from a concerned citizen at approximately 4:30 p.m. local time of what appeared to be an unmanned canoe adrift about 300 yards off the South Pier.
The Watchstander notified Coast Guard Station St. Joseph to launch a rescue crew aboard a 25-foot response boat, and also issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast asking other mariners in the area to keep a watch and report any sightings of a possible canoe or kayak.
A rescue crew from Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City was also requested to launch but was unable to due to hazardous weather conditions.
Authorities from the South Haven Police Department arrived shoreside near the area within minutes of the report and were able to determine, by use of binoculars, a high probability that the object was a canoe.
Responders are searching the area from the water and from shore to confirm whether the object is an unmanned canoe, and if any passengers may have been aboard.
The Coast Guard is asking anyone with information to contact the Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan Command Center at 414-747-7132.